DangerousBryan

A bit above what I normally look at in cars so need some info really. Had an e36 m3 but that's about as new as I've been. Can you get the 335 with a slippy diff? What can you get out of them with a remap? What falls of or go's wrong? This would be a main car with occasional track/drag use and hopefully a few trips to Germany. Is the e46 a lot dearer to run than the newer 2? Not to bothered about fuel economy as it would only be doing about 5 k a year.

t5frankie

a standard 335i can do 13 second quarters, and will remap nicely up to 335 bhp

dojj

iTrader: (3)

if it was me? i'd go for the diseasal version, simply because it goes well without the need to be frantic

the 335 should be easy enough to pump the boost up on the petrol version too but i'm not sure how easy they are to do seeing as there are probably more d's out there mapped than the petrol versions

not sure what the m3's are like to tune, so if you want the handling side of things and the better brakes and suspension etc of the m then that would be the one to go for as a toy

my mates got a 330d and it's a proper weapon, easily kept up with a panemera round the twisties and killed it on the straights, and the other guy was giving it death too so just imagine what an extra blower strapped to the side will do

the only thing is that you would then have to put "335d - mapped" and replace mo as the resident lambo killer here

stevecfrst1

As far as i know you cant get the 335i with an lsd, which is a shame really i had a 130i for a bit and that really did need one, used to spin up the inside rear all the time round tightish corners and with less power and tourque than the 335i. I havent driven a 335i so i couldnt say for sure but you would think it would be worse than the 130i beacause of the extra power.

The 335i remap to about 370-380 i think mate. I had an e46 m3 for a bit and it was good but expensive to run, parts are very dear imo. The diesels are good but for me lack sonething that you get from a quick petrol car

CraigJ

Must have been a diesel Panemera.

The 330D is a very good car. My friend has a 59 plate one. we took it and my 996 out last Saturday. gave both a good spanking. The BMW is a very good car and very quick for a diesel but a little boring. It is soooo quiet to drive. I kept having to look at the revs to see where they were as i could not hear the engine. There is too much body roll also.

For an every day car id have one but for a fun toy id go for a petrol car (M3) if you want to stay BMW.



Both cars cooling down at Squires after a good ragging.

Rick

If fuel economy isn't an issue it's between the E46 M3 and 335i. 335i comes in different variants, single and twin turbo. Remap to around 380bhp. You can put a diff on them. E46 M3 is the more focused car/better on track as std.

Rick

t5frankie

the 335i is just a twin turbo it has 302bhp and 295lb ft torque, it wont map to 380bhp lol thats ridiculous

Nick.W

iTrader: (1)

I've currently got a E90 330d. It's a good car but its had its fare share of problems and has been hideously expensive to sort, DPF being one of them, I don't do the miles to warrant a diesel so ill be getting an M3 of some sort next time round.

E46 M3 make sure it's had the rear subframe done and had the running in service, I believe some had recalls on bearing shells but I'm sure somebody else will confirm this.

I've driven a mapped 335i and it went very well. I think they have problems with one of the fuel pumps though as they have two.

Here's mine

Rick

07-10 cars are twin turbo N54 engines using Siemens MSD80/1 ECUs. Later cars use the N55 engine with a single twin scroll turbo using Bosch MEDV17.2 ECU.

And yes, with a good custom map the twin turbo can see 380bhp.

Rick

Brendan

iTrader: (1)

I have an e46 330d it is very good car and they are reliable, refines and pull like a train! not quite as immediate as a petrol but quick! Take it to DMS or MSD for a remap and they will really move! my ex colleges remapped 330d would win in a straight line 30mph to 120mph against an normal m3! on the motorway it was rapid! also good fuel economy if you keep it to 80mph.

rallycross

335i is great value at the moment, £10k gets you one with a few miles but nice spec.
Same age/spec/mileage 335D will be a fair whack more (25% more) and not as much fun.

e90 shape M3 still £20k plus so in a different price range.

I've had 2 x 335i, the current on has done huge mileage 185k with fsh from BMW on a 2006. They are really nice to drive, quick, smooth, refined, economical, and the chassis is brilliant far better than the older E46 models and surprising amount of traction/grip from a 300 bhp rwd car.

I've had an E46 M3 before the 335's and I wouldnt go back to an E46 M3 now having had 335 as its far better car, the E46 feels very dated if you get back in one, and the 335 has been massively cheaper to run than E46 M3 was (when looking at M3's just read through the service bills people get on them, crazy expensive to run for a 3 series).

335 is not really a track car though, E46 M3 far better for that, no LSD on the 335 although Quaiffe do one for £1200. I've driven an M3 E90 V8 on track and the chassis on these newer 3 series are amazing how well they cope with 400 bhp.

335i easy to to tune to 370 bhp, there is a big 335i tuning scene in the USA so plenty of kit to be had for these cars, good forum is E90 post for tuning advice. Jb4, Cob or Procede tuning options will give 370+ reliable bhp.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=58

http://www.juiceduptuning.co.uk/

335 is a real bargain at £10k, they tend to have really nice spec as they cost a fortune new (£40k?) so you get a lot for your money - xenons, leather, idrive sat nav phone, front and rear park etc.

Main thing to look out for on older 335 is turbo problems they use 2 x mitsubishi turbo's and the wastegate / actuator wears due to a design fault (it rattles then eventually loses boost). Quite a few are getting done under warranty.
Turbo develelopments also do the 2 turbos with an uprated spec for about £1k and its a 6 hour job to fit them - so be aware of this if its rattling at tickover it will get worse.
They also had problems with fuel pumps but most of these were done under warranty (£350 pump)

What I like about mine is they look very subltle, just the twin tailpipe to suggest its quick, no spoilers or anything, I quite like that after driving around in Cosworths and then Evo's and Impreza's the 335 is a nice way of getting around quickly without any attention.

DangerousBryan

No 335d manuals on autotrader. Did they not make any? Swaying towards the petrol.

WongRS

iTrader: (11)

a mate of mine has a 135i (same engine as 335i) and was RR'd the other day at 421 bhp from just a map and filters, it's seriously rapid too, awesome understated car.

pani_k

iTrader: (1)

I'd choose a 335i if you have no need for the diesel. Sound great, go great, and I like the interior more than the E46 M3.

Also 335d only came with as an auto box. 335i can be manual or auto but manual are rare to find with a big spec however. Unfortunately with most BMWs, when bought brand new people are fed the automatic sells better bullshit and they will be better to drive even though it is a £1500 option the auto-box over a standard manual and most people who buy them aren't enthusiasts and just want a comfy big car with a lazy auto box.

dojj

iTrader: (3)

now wrong with an ato box, as said, it makes the drive mych eaiser

the only porblem with it are the diffulcut to nagivate idrive bolokxs which you need to spend a dayh masterbating to figure out what does what because the functions are so not ovious

i'm sure that someone will intergrtrate the i product system with tier mcars soon where everything is so easy and cnature to use without having to retort to so much complitcated stuff going on

DangerousBryan

Total sense as usual dojj You been on the pop?

jameswrx

With the mileage you're going to do, I'd go for the 335i.

The diesel seems to command a premium over the petrol, so I'd go for the petrol then fit an LSD. Doing 5k miles PA you're not going to justify a higher initial purchase price IMO. Also (working on diesels) I seem to notice when they do go wrong they cost a lot to sort.

I love the look of these though, that saloon above looks awesome to me.

I love E46 M3's but given the choice I think I'd go 335i as I love the turbo idea. M3's are a nice sports car but not very quick feeling and tou're of course stuck with that perfromance. To me they are more about handling and feel whereas I love the shove of a turbo. Guess it's personal choice really, so what we all should just be saying is test drive all three.

dojj

iTrader: (3)

Yes Brian, I was a little tipsy

The point I was trying to make was that he's had the car for about a year and it took him about 4 months to figure out the idrive setup, especially the satnav stuff

So you are obviously going to be going for a top end motor so you will have that stuff on it as well so it's more than likely you won't get a manual box to go with it, and life is much easier with an auto

There are plenty of folks who have had what you are looking at but one guys onions are different to another's

danneth

335i for me, mate had one lovely drive and went well enough in standard form, as some of said they love to be mapped and see insane figures for just a map and turn into abit of a weapon.

DangerousBryan

Did you go from that to the mazda? If so,why?

Harris.

Ive got a 330D m sport and cant really see why people map/ want to make them go faster . there fine as a standard car and go really well. To me the whole point in the D is the mpg and low cost of ownership . If i wanted 350bhp i would have got a M3.

WongRS

iTrader: (11)

They are better on fuel when mapped though.
My mates just had his done and is seeing on average 5-8 mpg better fuel consumption.
My golf does about 10 mpg better on a run since being mapped.

rallycross

If you are looking for one my mate Nick is thinking of selling his 335i SE manual 6 speed.
Its a 2007 manual 4 door in le-mans blue with black leather.
2 owners FSH from BMW, 88k miles hence only £10k.
Very clean standard car, not been modified he is looking at getting a C55 AMG in the next few weeks if he can find one at the right price he will sell the 335.

cfoster

i've literally just bought myself an 08 plate 335i m sport vert yesterday with 58k! Bought the auto but with the paddle shifts! Only driven it home (about 100 miles) and surprisingly quick. I thought it would be a bit bargy being a convertible but surprisingly nimble!! Such good value nowadays and stupidly cheap to insure (only £320 fully comp!)




Chris